Top 5-6 but that's about it. A couple of others would need to have shockers/major mishaps for them to make the podium.

I'm guessing one of the Howson's is meant to be Hepburn...

A solid team, but missing a specialist TTT'er from previous years like Matthews or Meyer who can really lift the overall speed for a decent length of time. Maybe Keukeleire or Cort for Edmondson would be a good switch

Top 5-6 but that's about it. A couple of others would need to have shockers/major mishaps for them to make the podium.

I'm guessing one of the Howson's is meant to be Hepburn...

A solid team, but missing a specialist TTT'er from previous years like Matthews or Meyer who can really lift the overall speed for a decent length of time. Maybe Keukeleire or Cort for Edmondson would be a good switch

Matthews is certainly a legitimate loss ..... and a quality addition to the Sunweb TTT. Agree re Meyer. Edmondson was part of last year's line-up and whilst K or C may be slight upside for the uphill section; he is probably a significant upgrade as his likely designated task of burning it up on the flat (where I suspect they will use up both he and Tuft) leaving Durbridge, Impey, Howson & Hepburn to finish.

yaco wrote:L.Hamilton three years at Orica Scott. Bakker is a master negotiater.

Time will tell us whether that is the case or not. Given the current lack of a replacement primary sponsor, that 3rd year is contingent on Ryan being willing to bank-roll the team beyond 2019 which is when the bulk of the longer term contracts expire. Maybe an option on that 3rd year may prove to to have been a wiser choice if the sponsorship situation does not resolve itself.

Whilst Hamilton's early pro trajectory may follow that of Haig but it may also mirror that of Power. We'll know more in 12 months time and be far more informed this time 2019 as to whether Bakker pulled off a master-stroke .... or sold GE an age-group "comet" who flamed out by the time he hit pro ranks/merely someone without the real weapons to make a significant mark at the top level. Whilst one can hope for the former, the latter are very real scenarios that all too frequently play out with highly touted juniors.

yaco wrote:L.Hamilton three years at Orica Scott. Bakker is a master negotiater.

Time will tell us whether that is the case or not. Given the current lack of a replacement primary sponsor, that 3rd year is contingent on Ryan being willing to bank-roll the team beyond 2019 which is when the bulk of the longer term contracts expire. Maybe an option on that 3rd year may prove to to have been a wiser choice if the sponsorship situation does not resolve itself.

Whilst Hamilton's early pro trajectory may follow that of Haig but it may also mirror that of Power. We'll know more in 12 months time and be far more informed this time 2019 as to whether Bakker pulled off a master-stroke .... or sold GE an age-group "comet" who flamed out by the time he hit pro ranks/merely someone without the real weapons to make a significant mark at the top level. Whilst one can hope for the former, the latter are very real scenarios that all too frequently play out with highly touted juniors.

I see Hamilton as a one week stage racer and an Ardennes type rider - I don't see him as a GT GC rider - I like him very much because he has shown a high level of consistency in his junior career, which is an excellent asset to bring to the table.

yaco wrote:L.Hamilton three years at Orica Scott. Bakker is a master negotiater.

Time will tell us whether that is the case or not. Given the current lack of a replacement primary sponsor, that 3rd year is contingent on Ryan being willing to bank-roll the team beyond 2019 which is when the bulk of the longer term contracts expire. Maybe an option on that 3rd year may prove to to have been a wiser choice if the sponsorship situation does not resolve itself.

Whilst Hamilton's early pro trajectory may follow that of Haig but it may also mirror that of Power. We'll know more in 12 months time and be far more informed this time 2019 as to whether Bakker pulled off a master-stroke .... or sold GE an age-group "comet" who flamed out by the time he hit pro ranks/merely someone without the real weapons to make a significant mark at the top level. Whilst one can hope for the former, the latter are very real scenarios that all too frequently play out with highly touted juniors.

I see Hamilton as a one week stage racer and an Ardennes type rider - I don't see him as a GT GC rider - I like him very much because he has shown a high level of consistency in his junior career, which is an excellent asset to bring to the table.

Have zero dispute with regards to his junior record nor the potential he shows; my one point of question is your declaration of Bakker being a master negotiator. THAT remains open to question both with regards to this Hamilton deal ..... and his other clients.

yaco wrote:L.Hamilton three years at Orica Scott. Bakker is a master negotiater.

Time will tell us whether that is the case or not. Given the current lack of a replacement primary sponsor, that 3rd year is contingent on Ryan being willing to bank-roll the team beyond 2019 which is when the bulk of the longer term contracts expire. Maybe an option on that 3rd year may prove to to have been a wiser choice if the sponsorship situation does not resolve itself.

Whilst Hamilton's early pro trajectory may follow that of Haig but it may also mirror that of Power. We'll know more in 12 months time and be far more informed this time 2019 as to whether Bakker pulled off a master-stroke .... or sold GE an age-group "comet" who flamed out by the time he hit pro ranks/merely someone without the real weapons to make a significant mark at the top level. Whilst one can hope for the former, the latter are very real scenarios that all too frequently play out with highly touted juniors.

I see Hamilton as a one week stage racer and an Ardennes type rider - I don't see him as a GT GC rider - I like him very much because he has shown a high level of consistency in his junior career, which is an excellent asset to bring to the table.

Have zero dispute with regards to his junior record nor the potential he shows; my one point of question is your declaration of Bakker being a master negotiator. THAT remains open to question both with regards to this Hamilton deal ..... and his other clients.

It was a tongue in cheek remark - Though signing a neo-pro ( one Orica had wanted for a long time ) for three years, when the team has guaranteed funding for two years is a coup.

yaco wrote:Reckon Orica got the TT team wrong - They should have included Kreuziger and Plaza in place of Edmondson and Tuft.

Most definitely Kreuziger in/Tuft out (I continue to stand by my view that his extension for a further year is a decision based more on sentiment than sense). Equivocal re Plaza in for Edmondson.

Wouldn't have made one skerrick of difference; these changes wouldn't have got them onto the podium ..... for a course like this, they were at least one class below. Next year's team could conceivably be stronger with Meyer coming back into calculations; would be interesting if Hamilton could be useful.

yaco wrote:Reckon Orica got the TT team wrong - They should have included Kreuziger and Plaza in place of Edmondson and Tuft.

Most definitely Kreuziger in/Tuft out (I continue to stand by my view that his extension for a further year is a decision based more on sentiment than sense). Equivocal re Plaza in for Edmondson.

Wouldn't have made one skerrick of difference; these changes wouldn't have got them onto the podium ..... for a course like this, they were at least one class below. Next year's team could conceivably be stronger with Meyer coming back into calculations; would be interesting if Hamilton could be useful.

Potentially next year Orica are much stronger in the TTT if you add Meyer, Bauer and Trentin - Think a few teams misjudged the parcours today.

yaco wrote:Reckon Orica got the TT team wrong - They should have included Kreuziger and Plaza in place of Edmondson and Tuft.

Most definitely Kreuziger in/Tuft out (I continue to stand by my view that his extension for a further year is a decision based more on sentiment than sense). Equivocal re Plaza in for Edmondson.

Wouldn't have made one skerrick of difference; these changes wouldn't have got them onto the podium ..... for a course like this, they were at least one class below. Next year's team could conceivably be stronger with Meyer coming back into calculations; would be interesting if Hamilton could be useful.

Potentially next year Orica are much stronger in the TTT if you add Meyer, Bauer and Trentin - Think a few teams misjudged the parcours today.

Bauer most certainly; Trentin = not sure if he's be in the peak selection but if selected for a GT TTT line-up then he wouldn't likely let down the side. Hamilton apparently has some TT capacity; it might be interesting to see what they may make of this both with respect to his ITT & potential TTT outings.

Think we are seeing somewhat of a changing of the guard with regards to TTT. Sunweb have now marked themselves as the best in the business and the age of many of their key engines is such that they may stay there for a while. BMC will remain major players and will win some GT editions. SKY, for all their available talent just haven't quite managed to put it together which is puzzling given their focused approach to major targets. QST will remain strong but their time at the very top has passed. Orica ...will remain a top 5-6 team that on good days/favourable parcours may podium but minor medals will be their likely ceiling.

Of those remaining; I would state Albasini asa virtual certainty and if the announcements re some new signings are any indications; Edmondson looks very likely. They have traditionally given all "development projects" at least one more 2 years so it would be a surprise if Power is not renewed ... unless he himself decides otherwise. Will be very interesting to see with Mezgec; have no knowledge of his status but would think there are some strong reasons for retention unless he has other offers.

I'll always think of Gerro as an OGE rider, so it's sad to see him leave in the final years of his career. However at BMC he will have a good role and i'm sure will be invaluable, so as long as he's happy congrats to him!